Aruna Shanbaug case: Should mercy killing be legalized?

The mindset of men that there is nothing wrong with treating women as objects who can be stared at, approached and harassed with impunity is a topic which has been pressed upon time through social media, word of mouth, newspapers and hoardings time and again with no positive results.

The country mourns today as a former nurse at KEM hospital Aruna Shanbaug, who was in vegetative state for four decades after being raped, died at the age of 67. The lady was raped and sodomized with a dog chain by a sweeper, Sohanlal. Aruna was diagnosed with pneumonia and had been on ventilator for the past few days.

What we wonder is that why was she not given mercy killing. Why was she made to live like a vegetable after a traumatic event in her life?

Today, we have actors from Tellyland speak about legalizing euthanasia.

Manish Wadhwa seen in Life OK's Mahakumbh:

Mercy killing is a two edged sword and we in India are not equipped to handle it due to the great divide amongst the people in terms of education and economics. It's a power which has the potential of being misused for personal interest. I do not support mercy killing of any living being. It is like playing God while humanity is at stake.

Sana Amin Sheikh seen in Channel V's Million Dollar Girl:

I did read about the death of Aruna Shanbaug. It is very disturbing. Infact, I have been thinking about her since morning. Hospitals are not safe either.  But what happened to the sweeper who raped her and treated her like and animal? What about her family who abandoned her?  The mercy killing approval for a 42 year old case should have been considered. I think the law should consider mercy killing.

Iqbal Khan who was last seen in Life OK's Tumhari Paakhi:

Mercy killing is something which can be debated but what angers me is 'what happens to the rapist?'

Shireen Mirza seen in Star Plus' Yeh Hai Mohabbatein:

Mercy killing is a very sensitive issue and would require subjective consideration for each case. In Aruna Shanbaug's case I am extremely touched and impressed by KEM hospital's dedication towards her care for the last 42 years.

Amit Tandon seen in Star Plus' Yeh Hai Mohabbatein:

Yes mercy killing should be legalized under special conditions and this would certainly qualify as one of them.  Living like a vegetable and having machines keep u alive after a certain point is sheer torture and inhuman.  Those who have no chance for survival after a certain grace period should be allowed to go peacefully and I am sure the person suffering would want the same.

Gautami Kapoor seen in Star Plus' Tere Sheher Mein:

Yes I think it should be legalised. It is sad to see so many people suffering and leading such horrible lives. Their families don't really take care of them and patients are left to die in a vegetative state! I would rather recommend the law to end their suffering. I am glad Ms. Shanbaug has passed away. May her soul rest in peace.

Gauri Tonk who was last seen in Life OK's Ek Boond Ishq:

Mercy killing is a sensitive issue. It is not as simple as it sounds. I feel that legalizing this can backfire too where people can murder in the name of mercy killing. The laws have to be made very tactfully.

Divyanka Tripathi seen in Star Plus Yeh Hai Mohabbatein says:

It should definitely be legalised. It's inhuman to torture someone further than his ailments when we keep them bedridden and helpless for years. Imagine living like a vegetable for 42 years.  It's like being trapped in your own body for no fault of yours. Can you be at ease if someone blindfolds you,  gags your mouth, ties your hands and legs to a bed and leave you in that condition for a month? In India we don't do anything till someone struggles in courts for years! On humanitarian grounds something must surely be done on this issue.

Hiten tejwani seen in Colors' Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi :

I think mercy killing should be legalised in a condition where there is no scope of improvement and where there is no other way out to save the patient. The patient should agree to it and if the patient is not in a position to decide, his/her family should be given the authority.

Gaurav Chopra seen in Star Plus' Gulmohar Grand:

You will get diverse opinions on this, especially for individual cases, when you feel that somebody went through so much of sufferings, one tends to think that death would be better but then there are people who prefer to live even through lot of suffering or through long years of fighting a disease or being handicapped. I think it is an individual decision and when the human being himself is not in a position to say what he or she would prefer then I think it is very difficult for any other individual to take that decision on his/her behalf.

Kavita Kaushik last seen in SAB TV's FIR:

Mercy killing should be legalised; it is a painful life of suffering which should be allowed to be ended by the person enduring it.